Nike Border Clash XI: Washington over Oregon, by Larry Eder

It was in 1998 that the first Nike Border Clash was held. The idea, profoundly debated over lunch runs, perhaps even an adult beverage, was the following: Who, just who, had better prep cross country runners? Washington or Oregon?

John Truax and Josh Rowe were the first inquiring minds who suggested an event on campus, and in November 1998, the Nike Border Clash became a reality! Now, in 2009, eleven years later, and in Nike Border Clash XI, the dream is a reality...but, be careful, what you wish for.....

All photos courtesy of Runnerspace.com and Nike.

The Nike Border Clash celebrates the purity of cross country running, the place where distance running truly started. Eight time US national cross country champion Lyn Jennings once told this writer that, in order to enjoy cross country, one must " Become one with the mud!"

In the mythic battles between Gerry Lindgren and Steve Prefontaine, then, John Ngeno and Steve Prefontaine, the WA vs Oregon cross country battles were born.

In my senior year of college, I remember assisting Henry Rono in finding his teams' position on the starting line, as he, representing WSU, went up against Alberto Salazar and an amazing team from Oregon. Henry went out slow, in fact he was near last, at five minutes for the first mile. I believe he and Alberto ran their last mile on the Stanford golf course in just about 4:16! My viewpoint from 3/4 mile back gave me a tremendous view of their last straightaway.

The rivalry between states in prep cross country, especially with states like Washington and Oregon were a perfect setting for a cross country rumble. The 4,400 meter course, which gives the harrier a challenging tour of the Nike Global Headquarters, (aka the Berm), was extra challenging this year due to the rain that pummeled the course for most of the evening before: the wood chips were soft, the mud was real, and the competition was ready to race for bragging rights.

What other race starts with a cannon?

The races start with a cannon fusillade, and a in this year, there were also fireworks! The runners, starting on Washington and Oregon camps, run directly at each other for about seventy meters, then turn right and head onto the campus!

The girls race gave a portent of what was in store for the Oregon teams, as Washington's ace, Amy-Eloise Neale and Annamarie Maag of Oregon dueled to the final straightaway, with Neale winning by just over a second, 16:37.10 to 16:38.28. After that, however, it was a river of Washington runners as the WA girls scored 19 to the Oregon girl's 44!

After the race, in speaking to the girls, it was clear that this was a race that they wanted to do well in. Nike's Sarah Schwalb, a former world class distance runner herself, told this writer how excited the young athletes had been to get their invitations to the Nike Border Clash, after their finishes in their state cross country meets.

The course, it was agreed by many, was very tough with the wet conditions, but all who we spoke to, agreed that today was "real cross country."

Priscilla Timmons, a junior, from Skyview High school in Washington told us "Got out fast, the course is so muddy, but did not have much of a kick, it was good, but I was satisfied...I love the cannon start, it is my favorite, I love the activities before the start, I love the bonding.."

Amy-Eloise Neale of Washington takes the win, with Annamarie Maag of Oregon right behnd her. (Photos courtesy of Runnerspace.com)

Amy-Eloise Neale gets her win......

Shane Moskowitz of Washington lost the Nike Border Clash by two steps, at the finish, as a junior. " I had been thinking about it all year, " Shane told us afterwards.

"An Oregon guy took the early lead and pushed it..."noted Moskowitz. " Connor (Peloquin) started pushing it, trying to get us up with the Oregon guy. We got past him..." noted Shane...

Shane Moskowitz in the lead pack......

A pack with Moskowitz, Peloquin and Drew O'Donaghue, all of Washington took the lead of the race, and it was a battle between these athletes for the seond half of the course.

Moskowitz, who had won the Washington state cross country title two weeks ago, is a racer. He also has a long memory, and to this writer, it seems that Mr. Moskowitz had been replaying the 2008 Border Clash in his head. He was not going to loose again over the last hundred meters, or last two meters. And he knew it...

Drew O'Donaghue pushed the hills, Shane Moskowitz pushed the flats, and during this seesaw type action, Moskowitz learnt a bit about his competitor.." I thought I could finish faster.." noted Moskowitz.

Shane Moskowitz en route to victory.....

When Shane Moskowitz made his move over Drew O'Donaghue, it was a hard fought victory, as just two seconds separated them at the finish: 14:06.29 to 14:08.38.

On the team side, Washington shut out Oregon, 15-50, with Washington taking the first seven positions. Oregon will have to work on that!

Shane had a few things to say on his victory:

I was so excited, coming here, I was beat by two seconds off the line, it was a big bummer, so I wanted to come back and run. An Oregon guy took the lead here, then a Washington guy, Parker, pushed to get the Oregon guy, then, Drew Odonahue was pushing the hills, and I pushed the straights...I think that this course is tougher than the Washington State meet..it has been a hard week for me, as I am training for the Western regional (Foot Locker)..I just loved getting totally pushed from the gun, working on them, and then, the national meet is increadible, when you race, racing against the best. There are girls who run 2:05, which was my personal best last year...it was great hearing Dathan speak, they were all so amazing guys, it was great to see them, listen to them and realize how humble that they are...."

Watching the meet was Alberto Salazar, this year's Nike Coach of the year, was on the soccer pitch with Alan Webb, his newest athlete, Dathan Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp and Amy Yoder-Begley, three of his athletes in the Oregon project. All three were with the young athletes this weekend, and the Washington and Oregon athletes found them inspirational. One wonders if an athlete from this year's fields will become part of this amazing distance running project.

In fifty-second place, on the boys race, was freshman Kevin Kavanaugh, who was sporting a "hockey lip" or a fat lip, from falling near the start, and getting a shoe in his mouth. " The idea in cross country is to pass five guys, then pass some more."

" I like track more. I like cross country when it is really cross country, when it is rainy, when it is really fun. I fell down at the start, and the guy in front of me fell down and his shoe hit me. " noted Kavanaugh. As a freshman, Kevin was a former member of the Bowerman AC, a local club coached by Chris Collet, John Truax and John Cook, who now runs for Beaverton High School...my guess is that we will see this young man again..

For American distance running to improve, it takes an interested few to make the sport resonate with a new generation. The Nike Border Clash has done this for over a decade. Programs like the Beaverton AC, with one hundred kids, give young runners a good start...

For me, the Nike Border Clash is the best little cross country meet in the country.....see you here next year!

Bio: Larry Eder has had a 44 year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub 4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Track & Field to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts and RunBlogRun.
Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says:
"I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself."